Improvement in planing-machines



J. B. STOOKHAM.

' Planing-Machine.

No. 201,366. Patented March 19, I878.

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w ITNE'EEEE- 4 INVEN TUK N PETERS, PHOTO-LYHQGRAPHER. WASHINGTON 0 O v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

JEROME B. STOCKHAM, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO H. O. BEDELL AND GEORGE H. LATHROP, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLANlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,366, dated March 19, 1878; application filed February 15, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ERoi/LE B. STooKHAM, of J aokson, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Planing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descripthe driving-shaft, whereby it can be quickly and easily adjusted up and down.

It further consists in the arrangement and combination of parts that will be more fully described hereinafter, whereby the power from the driving-shaft is applied to the bed for the purpose of adjusting it.

. The accompanying drawings represent my invention.

A represents the shaft that drives the main cutter-head, and which is provided with one or more pulleys, C. Passing over the center of this shaft are the two loose belts D E, the one E being twisted, so as to run the shaft G, for, elevating the planer-bed Z in a reverse direction from the one D. Each of these belts is provided with a tightener, I, so that either one can be brought into action in a moment. When the planer-bed has been raised or lowered to the proper position, these belts are so slack as'not to operate upon the shaft G at all; but when it is desired to adjust the bed either up or down, one of the tighteners is brought into action by pressing down upon its outer end, when the belt will at once move the shaft G in the desired direction, and cause the bed to move up or down.

The shaft G extends horizontally across the frame L, and has a worm gear, N, formed upon each end. This shaft also has the two pulleys 0 upon its center to receive the two belts D E. In whichever direction this shaft G revolves the worms mesh with and cause the two pinions It on the vertical screws S to revolve, as these pinions rest upon the top of the sleeves T, fastened to each side of the frame, and through which the screws pass. When made to revolve in one direction the pinions cause the screws to rise upward, thereby elevating the bed Z, fastened to their tops, to any desired degree. When made to revolve in the opposite direction by bringing the other belt into action, the pinions have a tendency to rise upward upon the screws above the tops of the sleeves, when the weight of the bed at once causes the screws to sink downward into the sleeve the same distance the pinions have risenupward.

By means of the combination of parts above described it will be seen that the bed of the planer can be instantly moved either up or down by hearing for an instant upon the end of either of the belt-tighteners, and thus"'adjust the bed to the thickness that it is desired to plane the lumber or other material.

If preferred, any other combination of parts may be used for accomplishing this object, as my invention consists in adjusting the bed by means of power from a driving-shaft.

Where the bed is made stationary the cutter-heads may be raised and lowered in the same manner as here described, and by the same devices.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In combination with a planer-bed or cutterhead, and a mechanism for adjusting it up and down, the two loose belts D E, one of which is twisted, and each of which is provided with a tightening device, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of December, 1877.

JEROME B. STOCKHAM. 

